Starting disabled remove key

OK, the strange thing about this condition is that it happens WHILE DRIVING! (2003 CTS with LS package and Bose NAV)

The MO is strange. the car can be speeding up or keeping a constant speed. The cruise may be active or not... The condition though is always unexpected. You will be driving along and the engine will just shut off and then the NAV screen will display "STARTING DISABLED REMOVE KEY".

Sometimes while coasting to the side of the road, it will magically come back to life and continue like nothing happened. Sometimes you will have to get off the road and then restart it. If the cruise was set, the condition shuts off the cruise and resets all driver presets to a factory default.

I have had OnStar do the remote diagnostics and they have found nothing. Once they do the check however, the cruise control will become active again, at least indicating that the system has been cleared.

Has anyone dealt with anything like this before? I would think that the key check is done only at startup... Is it always checking the key?

The dealer of course has no clue. They have replaced the keys and the Theft deterrent Control Module. It still hapens about 1 or 2 times a month.

Re: Starting disabled remove key

Fortunately it happened in my garage. Turned out something was draining the battery and when the key was turned into the start possition it would'nt allow you to remove the key!! Caddy Tech had a high powered quick discharge battery jumper and it started. I let it run for a half hour and it was fine. You situation would scare the hell out of me. I'm sure you plan to take it in for service?

Re: Starting disabled remove key

Actually, I live just down the street from Richard Childress... his winery may be my closest liquor store

The last time this happened I immediately called OnStar. On this occasion, the fuel shut off and the message displayed. As I coasted to the right lane, it started back up again... poof! The DIC then displayed "DRIVER 1" instead of the names we have stored and ALL settings were gone. The cruise control would not function, the NAV was at factory view settings, and the stereo was reset also.

OnStar ran the diagnostics and found nothing. Once they finished the diagnostic and I hung up, the cruise was functional again! My service rep recommended an exorcism.

Re: Starting disabled remove key

Originally Posted by ssstealth

Actually, I live just down the street from Richard Childress... his winery may be my closest liquor store

The last time this happened I immediately called OnStar. On this occasion, the fuel shut off and the message displayed. As I coasted to the right lane, it started back up again... poof! The DIC then displayed "DRIVER 1" instead of the names we have stored and ALL settings were gone. The cruise control would not function, the NAV was at factory view settings, and the stereo was reset also.

OnStar ran the diagnostics and found nothing. Once they finished the diagnostic and I hung up, the cruise was functional again! My service rep recommended an exorcism.

You're describing a complete loss of electrical power and system reset. You've got a wire/cable that's loose or the end is improperly crimped; maybe a loose relay. Someday it'll quit alltogether and you'll be able to find it.

Re: Starting disabled remove key

I HAVE NOW THE SAME PROBLEM: Starting disabled remove key ON MY CTS 2003 WITH 80Miles. now i have problems to restar the engine, when start the engine then go away in few minutes the problem comes back again and nav shows Starting disabled remove key. other times nav show power engine reduced and engine feels very bad. somebody know the reason?

Re: Starting disabled remove key

My experience with a crank position sensor when they go they really go buy buy, DEAD.
The electrical wiring I think is a start. What starts the ECM and controls the system. The shut down in what you say is "STARTING DISABLED REMOVE KEY" it sound as though at top there is a cut out. Ignition switch or link to ECM power line.
Da! can't tell you anymore than that logic.
Jim

Re: Starting disabled remove key

The loose wire in the fuse pannel I think was my thread..it was not starting and key was stuck in ignition.
So check all the wires,relays and fuses, make sure they all have a good connection.
I wouldn't rule out a bad ecu, or just a bad ground somewhere.

Re: Starting disabled remove key

I can confirm that ours is still doing this even after changing the Crank Position Sensor. I will also state that the car was taken to the dealer several times while under warranty and they could not fix it either. They replaced many electrical parts. The most puzzling thing is that when it happens, it is usually on a nice smooth road with the cruise set. Not only is it aggravating but quite dangerous when it cuts off in heavy traffic.